Teachers have been using multiplication tables as a tool for teaching the mathematical operation to children for as long as anyone can remember. However, consistently remembering times tables has remained as elusive ever. Many children continue to find it difficult to memorize their multiplication tables.
Here are some very useful tips that could help them get over that multiplication table hill.
Two times tables tip
When multiplying any number by two, just add the number to itself. For example: 2 x 9 = 9 + 9, 2 x 7 = 7 + 7 and so on and so forth.
Five times tables tips
The last digit of any number multiplied by five will alternately be 5 and 0. The answer will also be always half of any result in the 10 times table. For example: 5 x 8 = half of 10 x 8 = half of 80 = 40. Another trick for this times table is remembering that the answer is always half the number times 10. For example: 5 x 8 = 10 x 4 = 40.
Six times tables tip
Multiply 6 by any even number and the end digit will be the same as that even number. For example: 6×4=24, 6×6=36, 6×8=48
Seven times tables tips
Seven times something is eight times something minus something. For example: 7×5 = 8×5-5, or 40-5 = 35. Many kids also find it hard to remember that 7 x 8 = 56, so teach them this trick, which is easily one of the more fun seven times tables tips: say 5,6,7,8, and they will get 56 = 7 x 8.
Nine times tables tips
The last digit of the product will always go in this sequence: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and so on. For example: 9 X 1 = 9; 9 x 2 = 18; 9 x 3 = 27; 9 x 4 = 36; 9 x 5 = 45……
One of the more fascinating nine times tables tips will always be the fact that the sum of the digits of each product will always be 9. For example: 2 x 9 = 18, 1 + 8 = 9; 7 x 9 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9. Even more fascinating is the fact that the answer will always be 10× the number minus the number itself. For Example: 9×8 = 10×8 – 8 = 80-8 = 72
Ten times tables tip
The ten times table is one of the easiest tables to remember. Just add a zero to the end of any number you want to multiply by 10. For example: 10 x 3 = 30 or 10 x 1,000,000 = 10,000,000.
Eleven times tables tip
When multiplying 11 by any number up to 9, just write that number down twice. For example: 8 x 11 = 88; 3 x 11 = 33 and so on.
Teach your kids any of the above tricks, and remembering their multiplication tables will become so much easier for them.
Also, if you haven’t done so yet – be sure to check out our free trial of MathRider – the best way I know to make sure your child remembers and masters all their times tables (and more…).